Ibiza goes dark for a minute: the total eclipse of 12 August
The partial phase opens at 19:38 and totality lands at 20:32, with the sun three degrees off the horizon: 1m18s in Sant Joan, 1m07s in Sant Antoni, 40s in Formentera. IGN figures. No total eclipse has been visible from the Balearics since 1912.
On Wednesday 12 August Ibiza sits inside the path of totality. According to figures from Spain’s Instituto Geográfico Nacional, the partial phase begins around 19:38 and totality sweeps the island in a matter of seconds: Sant Joan de Labritja at 20:32:16 for 1m18s, Sant Antoni de Portmany at 20:32:34 for 1m07s, Sant Josep de sa Talaia at 20:32:42 for 1m02s and Formentera at 20:33:10 for barely 40s.
The detail that changes everything is the altitude: the sun will be three degrees above the horizon and will set between 20:50 and 20:53, still eclipsed. Without a clear western horizon there is nothing to see, which is why the whole island is heading west. The last total eclipse visible from the Balearics or mainland Spain was in 1912.
The island has built a calendar around that minute. Feels Like Eclipse Festival takes over s’Arenal beach in Sant Antoni from 16:00 to 23:59 with Jamie Jones, Franky Rizardo and Miguelle & Tons, handing out certified eclipse glasses with every ticket. DJ Harvey presents Phoenix Rising at 528 Ibiza, up in the Benimussa hills, from 18:00 to 04:00 alongside Artwork and Sonido Tupinamba. Woomoon celebrates its tenth anniversary at Cova Santa with Sven Väth headlining.
There is more: Namaste opens Las Dalias from 19:00 and admits accompanied minors, elrow takes its Outdoors to Ushuaïa from 17:00 to 23:00, Sunwaves goes indoors at Playa Soleil until 06:00, and Pukka Up takes totality out to sea, sailing from Sant Antoni to anchor off Es Vedrà. Then the night carries on like any August Wednesday — Paradise at [UNVRS], MEDUZA’s OUR HOUSE at Hï — but the minute at 20:32 does not come back.
